Crank shaper ram and clamp



1952 w. F. ZIMMERMANN 2,580,497

CRANK swarm RAM AND cum? Filed Nov. 21, 1949 2 Sl-EETS--Sl-IEET .l

INVENTOR flu-W 1 BY MKM ATTORNEY Jan. 1, 1952 w. F. ZIMMERMANN CRANK SHAPER RAM AND CLAMP 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed NOV. 21, 1949 INVE TOR W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1952 2,530,497 CRANK SHAPER RAM- nn CLAMP William F. Zimmermann, Maplewo d, N. J,, as?

gnor to Gould 8; Eberhardt, Incorporated, Irvington, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 21, 1949, Serial No. I28y633 The present invention relates tp machine. tools, more especially to the class known as shaping machines, and is concerned more particularly with improvements in shaper rams and with the manually operable means for clamping the ram firmly and securely to the ram actuater in any preselected position within the range of the machine.

A shaping, machine customarily is provided with a hollow framein which is housed the power transmission including a relatively large bull gear that carries an adjustableethrow crankpin. A large slotted pitman lever, pivoted at its lower end to the frame, is arranged to be oscillated to and fro across the end face of the gear by the crank pin as the bull gear revolves. Aleng the top of the frame, guideways are provided for supporting the shaper ram and the oscillatory movement of the crank-driven lever is converted into reciprocatory motion in the ram through linkage connecting the free end of the crank lever with the ram. The forward end of the ram carries a tool that is caused to perform a cutting operation on a workpiece on a forward stroke of the ram and a noncutting operation on the return stroke of the ram. The length of the stroke imparted to the tool is regulated by varying the throw of the crank pin in the bull gear, whereas the operating zone of the stroke imparted is regulated by unclamping the crank; I lever linkage from the ram and shifting the point of connection to suit to be machined.

A primary aim of the invention is to reduce the time heretofore expended in making ram adjustments by locating and arranging the ram controls so that they may be conveniently reached and operated by the operator from his normal work stationadjacent the tool head and workpiece. A further aim of the invention is to remove metal from a surface, as by planing, more efficiently and more economically than has been the practice heretofore with shaping machines, by the provision of an improved ram clamp that is readilyoperable from a remote station, firmly to clamp the ram to its actuator in, a selected position so as non-yieldingly to take the thrusts of the tooling operation and the inertia of the mass on reversals in operational strokes. The invention further aims to render available a ram structure that may be more easily constructed and machined, lighter in weight'fqr the same work with the same power and one that is in.- herently capable of obtaining and maintaining a high degree of accuracy in its dimensional form and shape, to the end of realizing not only savthe location of the surface 7 clai s. or. -39) ings in production and operational costs, but an improvement in the character and quality of the surface that is machined on the work by the shaper.

In attaining these objectives, this invention proposes a ram structure which is relatively long and narrow and generally tunnel-shaped in cross-section but closed at its ends. The tunnel structure is formed with outwardly disposed V- guides along its lower longitudinal edges that are formed preferably contiguous with the side walls and roof. In accordance with this invention the roof of the structure is unbroken, as by a slot, throughout its length. The roofed cavity within the ram accommodates the ram actuating linkage, with adequate room providedin a lengthwise direction, for shifting the point of connection of the linkage with the ram whereby to change the location of the tool stroke.

A preferred method and means for clamping the point of connection of the actuator to the ram in a selected position comprises a pair of wedge members, having parallel outer bearing surfaces, and cooperating but opposed parallel bearin surfaces within the tunnel structure of the ram. One of the wedge members is constructed and adapted to function as the pivot block for the crank lever linkage, and is mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the ram, whereas the other wedge member is mounted for adjustznent longitudinallyof the ram with the pivot block and also selectively independently and relatively thereto whereby clamping by wedging the pivot block between the opposed bearing surfaces :i the ram may be ob a n The contrgls tor shifting the pivot block and for act at n the e men s t ereof relatively a e located at a remote distance, namely at the toolhead end of the ram so that the operator conveniently may reach and operate the controls and change the gone of tool reciprocation from his normal working position.

he obje and a nta s will be in pa indieated in the following description and in part rendered a .pparent therefrom in connection with the anne ed drawings.

To enable others skilled the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that th y ma mbod the me in the v i us ways emplat by t is inve ti rawin s deriotin a prefe red typi a cons uct on have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such draw ings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of a representative shaping machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shaper ram.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a shaper ram shown partly in section, illustrating a preferred form of a ram structure and clamp.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are transverse sectional views taken along lines 4-4, 5-- 5, 6--5 and 1'l, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a portion of the pivot block.

The machine of Fig. 1 is constructed with a base ID upon which an upstanding hollow frame ii is mounted. Along the top of the frame dovetailed parallel guideways Ila are provided within which a ram structure I2 is mounted for reciprocation. Complementary dovetailed parallel guides l2a are formed upon the under and outer sides of the ram, which extend substantially the entire length of the ram. The forward end of the ram is constructed to carry an angularly and vertically adjustable tool head |2b that is adapted to support a tool T arranged in operative relation with a workpiece W. The workpiece is clamped to a work table I5a that is mounted for lateral movement on a cross rail I3 which in turn is mounted for vertical adjustment on guideways l3a formed upon the forward ends of the main frame I I.

The main drive to the shaper ram comprises, briefly, a main power shaft 25 having a main clutch means indicated at 25a constructed and arranged to be actuated by a start and stop control lever 28 that extends forward to within convenient reach of the operator at his normal station adjacent the work. Power from the main shaft 25 is transmitted to the ram through speedchange-gear mechanism indicated at 25b to a large bull gear 2|. Control levers 25c and 25d are provided, in the instant embodiment, to shift the change gears whereby to obtain the ram speed desired. The bull gear is journaled, cantilever fashion, in a bearing provided in the side of the frame I I, and carries a radially adjustable crankpin IS on the inner end face thereof. Radially disposed guides l8a support and guide the crankpin l8, and screw adjusting means including a square-ended cranking shaft i8b projecting from the axis of the bull gear is provided to change the position of the crankpin radially of the gear.

The crankpin is fitted to a bearing block l8c that fits within an elongated slot I5s formed ina large pitman lever I5. Lever i5 is fixedly pivoted as at l! in the lower portions of the frame H, and is connected at its free end to a link [6 which in turn is operatively connected with the ram l2. For best results the point of connection of the link it with the ram, should lie in the general plane of, or slightly above the plane of, the ram ways I la and 12a.

When the power clutch 25a is engaged, rotary motion of the bull gear 2| and crankpin l8 imparts an oscillatory motion to the pitman l5, and the pitman, through link l6 imparts rectilinear motion to the ram [2 and tool T. If the stroke of the ram and tool is too long or too short for the extent of the cut to be made, a readjustment is made by cranking the squared shaft [8b whereby the crankpin is shifted radially of the bull gear until the desired stroke length is obtained. If the range of the stroke is beyond or fails short of the desired cut, the ram is readjusted relative. to the linkage 16-, I5.

In crank shapers prior to this invention the clamping of the pivot pin of link Hi to the ram was customarily made through the intermediary of a clamp block that was clamped in the desired longitudinal position in the ram by means of a clamp screw operating through a long slot formed in the roof of the ram. In some instances the clamp-screw slot extended approximately half the length of the ram and necessarily weakened the structure considerably. In prior attempts to minimize ram deflection incident to the long opening, more metal, was cast in the ram walls and intricate ribbing designs were resorted to without, however, entirely curing the defect.

With the aid of this invention an improved ram structure and clamping means is provided which not only eliminates the need of a slot in the ram wall. but makes unclamping, readjustment, and reclamping of the ram to its actuating linkage by means available and conveniently operable from the work station at the front of the machine. Figs. 3-7 of the drawings illustrate a preferred form of ram structure and clamp in which the normally fixed pivot I6a of the link I 6 is mounted in a block 30. The block is interiorily threaded to receive a screw shaft 3| that extends lengthwise the ram and journaled at its ends in bearings 32 and 33 provided Within the ram. The shaft 3| carries a mitre gear 34 at its forward end which meshes with another mitre gear 35 secured to a stub shaft 36 that projects through the wall of the ram. The stub shaft 36 is squared at its end 31 to receive a crank handle (not shown).

Above the adjusting screw, another shaft 40 is journaled in bearings 4|, 42 provided within the ram. This shaft 40, is illustrated as hexagonal in cross-section but may, as will be seen later, be square, splined, or keyed. The forward end of the shaft 40 carries a helical gear 43 that is meshed with a helical pinion 44 formed upon a shaft 45 that also projects through the ramwall and is provided with an operating handle 46.

Slidably mounted upon the spline shaft 40 is an exteriorly threaded screw piece the lower portion of which is cradled in a cavity 5! formed in the block 30 and restrained against endwise movement therein, and relative to the block, by end walls 52 and 53 of the cavity. End walls 52 and 53 extend in planes normal to the axis of the screw piece 50 and serve as abutments. The block 30 is formed to extend partly around the sides of the screw piece and is formed with inclined bearingsurfaces 54 and 55 along its projecting edges upon which rests a channel-shaped half-nut member 56. The under surfaces 51 of the half-nut are also inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 40 and bear on the inclined surfaces 54, 55 of the pivot block 30.

The half-nut piece 56 is provided with a screw thread 56a that meshes with the thread upon the screw piece 50, whereby rotation of the latter will effect a relative shifting of the half-nut member along the inclined planes 54, 55, and 51. The outer surface 58 of the half-nut opposite the inclined plane 51 is, in the instant embodiment, machined flat and parallel to the axis of the screw 50 and is adapted to engage a complementary flat bearing surface 60 provided within the ram, preferably on the roof wall thereof. Opposed guideways and bearing surfaces BI, 52 formed within the ram and preferably along the inner side walls of the ram are also provided, upon which rest side guide ribs 63 and 64 formed upon the sides of the pivot block 30. As indicated, the bearing surface 60, the pair of bearing surfaces BI and 62, all within the ram, oppose one another and extend longitudinally along the ram adistance at'least equalling the extent that the ram may be adjusted relative to its actuating linkage, and a completely closed ram housing, v

devoid of slots or openings, is thereby provided for, this critical portion of the ram structure. While in the embodiment illustrated, the interior guide and bearing surfaces'60, 6|, and 62, are

parallel and the inner surfaces 54, 55, and 51 of erable selectively to clamp and unclamp the ram from its reciprocating means comprising, a pair operator will turn the clamp handle 46 in areleasing direction, which through the helical gearing 44, 43 effects rotation of the splined shaft 40 and screw piece 50. The external threads on the screw piece being constantly interlocked and engaged with the internal threads of the half-nut wedge piece 56, produces, on rotation of the screw, a shifting of the wedge piece 56 in an unclamping direction. The angularity of the inclined surfaces relative to the parallel surfaces need not be very great, for example, 4 inch per foot, or a taper within the class known as looking tapers, is adequate, and a complete release or conversely a firm clamping may be effected with but relatively small endwise movement between the wedge members 30 and 56. When the wedge piece 56 has been shifted and the pivot block 30 thereby released the ram may be adjusted relative to the block by a turning of the crank shaft 3'! and screw 3|. During the foregoing operation, the pivot block 30 remains fixed in space by virtue of the lock provided by the crankpin I8 and pitman lever l5. It will be observed that the making of ram adjustment is at a remote distance from the ram clamp, namely at the tool head end of the ram, at which station are also located the master clutch lever 28, tool-head controls I20, table cross-feed and elevating controls [40, and [3b, and ram stroke control l8b. Hence the operator need not leave his work station in setting up the machine for a given work piece.

When the operator has positioned the ram,

relative to is actuating linkage, at the desired location, the clamping handle 46 is again operated, but in a clamping direction, to efiect a shifting of the wedge piece 56 along its inclined surfaces and a firm clamping of the pivot block to the ram. During the ram shifting operation thescrew piece 50 and half-nut wedge piece 56, in effect move as a unit along the splined shaft 40, and remain always in operative position relative to the pivot block 30, and when the repositioning of the ram is completed and the ram clamped, the adjusting screw 3| and its complementary threads within the pivot block are, it will be observed, relieved of the end thrusts incident to ram reciprocation and tooling operations and may therefore be relied upon to give accurate and dependable service throughout the life of the shaper.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such 6 adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the subjoined claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as' new and desire to secure the. following combinations andelernents, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a shaping machine having a reciprocable ram adapted to carry a tool, and means. to re? ciprocate the ram, the combination of means opof complementary wedge members having bearingsurfaces fbrmedon their outer sides and on their adjacentfaces, additional bearingv surfaces arranged within the rain in opposed relation adaptedto receive the. said pair of, wed e members therebetween means operatively connecting one'of'said wedge members with theram reciprobatirfg means, and means to actuate one,

of 'saidwedge members relatively to the other whereby selectively to effect a clamping or unclampii ig of the pair of wedge members between the said bearing surfaces of the ram.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means to actuate one of said wedge members comprises a rotatable screw piece restrained against endwise movement relative to one of the wedge members and threadably engaging the other of said members, and means selectively operable to rotate the screw piece.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the outer bearing surfaces of the pair of wedge members lie in parallel spaced planes and the bearing surfaces on their adjacent faces in a plane inclined relatively thereto.

4. A means for clamping a shaping machine ram to its actuator from a station remote from the clamp comprising a terminal member operatively connected with the ram actuating mechanism, a second member associated with said terminal member and adapted for movement relative thereto selectively to clamp and unclamp the terminal member to the ram, means including a splined shaft element and screw means between the shaft and second member operative on rotation to effect shifting of the sec-- ond member relative to the first member, and an additional shaft element operative to shift the ram relative to both of said members, and means located remote from the said members for actuating said shaft elements whereby to effect clamping and unclamping and shifting of the ram relative to the actuating means from a remote station.

5. Ram clamping means for a shaping machine comprising a pair of oppositely tapered wedge-shaped members arranged in juxtaposition with their outer surfaces in parallel spaced planes, opposed bearing surfaces within the shaper ram and extending lengthwise thereof for receiving said pair of wedge members, screw means extending longitudinally of the ram and threadably engaging one of the said pair of wedge members for adjusting the member longitudinally of the ram, means interlocking said one wedge member with the other whereby both members may be adjusted longitudinally in response to actuation of said screw means, and means including another shaft extending longitudinally of the ram and operatively connected with the wedge members for adjusting the members relatively to each other whereby to effect clamping of said pair of wedge members to the bearing surfaces of the ram, means to actuate the ram, and means connecting one of the pair of wedge members to the ram-actuating means.

6. A shaping machine combining a. ram actuator and means for clamping the ram actuator to the ram, said clamping means comprising a pair of oppositely tapered wedge-shaped members, bearing surfaces within the ram cooperatively related to said wedge-shaped members, means extending longitudinally of the ram and operable from the forward end thereof to adjust the said pair of wedge members longitu dinally of the ram, means including another shaft extending longitudinally of the ram and operatively connected with the other of said pair of wedge members for adjusting the members relative to each other whereby selectively to effect clamping and unclamping of said pair of wedge members with the bearing surfaces of the ram, and ram-actuating means operatively connected with one of the pair of wedge members.

'7. A ram structure for a shaper comprising an elongated inverted U-shaped member devoid of openings in its upper wall but having an elongated opening in its undersurface adapted to receive terminal elements of ram-actuating REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 916,085 Wood Mar. 23, 1909 1,454,076 Pyle May 8, 1923 1,920,476 Morton Aug. 1, 1933 mat-M 

